Reviews by Deseret News staff writers of recent movie soundtrack and folk-punk recordings:ANGELO BADALAMENTI/NICOLAS CAGE/VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Wild at Heart" (Polygram). * * *
Angelo Badalamenti is probably best known for the quirky music he created for David Lynch's even more quirky TV series "Twin Peaks." But his score for Lynch's film "Wild at Heart" proves that was no fluke. He's just as quirky here. (Though, perhaps some of that is Lynch's influence.)Still, his cuts are the best thing about this album, from the finger-snapping "Cool Cat Walk" (which, actually, isn't all thatRECORDINGSfar-removed from "Twin Peaks") to two excellent versions of "Dark Spanish Symphony" to the sweet "Dark Lolita," the latter eschewing the edginess that seems to mark Badalamenti's work.
The other artists' here are hit and miss: I liked Koko Taylor's rendition of Badalamenti's "Up in Flames" (with lyrics by Lynch) and Chris Isaak's two contributions. And it's always fun to hear Gene Vincent doing "Be-Bop A Lula." But Powermad's "Slaughterhouse" is not my cup of tea, and actor Nicolas Cage, doing Elvis doing "Love Me" and "Love Me Tender," is the pits.
Still, there's enough good stuff here to make it recommendable. And it's certainly better than the movie. - Chris HicksVIOLENT FEMMES; "Why Do Birds Sing?" (Slash Records). * * * 1/2
Though the last release from Wisconsin's Violent Femmes, "3," wasn't bad, it did leave some critics and fans wondering if the band had painted itself into a stylistic corner.
They need not have worried, though, as the band's new album manages to squeeze new life out of the Femmes' distinctive folk-punk formula.
Singer Gordon Gano does have the whiniest vocals this side of Morrissey, but the fact that he has a sense of humor lets him avoid being too annoying. "He Likes Me" and "Girl Trouble," both typical angst-ridden Femmes numbers, allow Gano to stretch those vocals to their extremes.
The trio even manages to loosen up with a spectacular cover of Culture Club's "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" Welcome back, guys, this is the type of music we've grown to love. - Jeff Vice